Boston Red Sox trade deadline rumors have been dominated by hopes for another infield bat. After losing Curtis Mead to injury, the Sox only got more desperate. Many sources report that Boston has been hunting aggressively in the shortstop market, but it's reportedly gone the catcher route instead.
Multiple reports link the Red Sox to Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman. Jared Carrabis of the "Section 10" podcast reports as if the deal is complete, but MLB insiders Mark Feinsand and Joel Sherman leave some room for doubt.
Update: the Red Sox will also recieve catcher Jake Rogers in the deal. The Orioles will get Carlos Narváez, Anthony Eyanson (Red Sox No. 2 prospect), Kyson Witherspoon (Red Sox No. 4 prospect), Enddy Azocar (Red Sox No. 5 prospect) and a Player To Be Named Later in return.
Rutschman has been on the injured list since July 19 with left wrist inflammation. It's risky to trade for a player on the IL, especially since the Sox's only other deadline trade target found himself there shortly after his arrival to Boston, so the negotiations between Boston and Baltimore could go on for hours.
Rutschman is under team control until after the 2027 season, which makes him more expensive than a rental catcher candidate. His injury status and the questions surrounding the 2027 season could alter his value in the Red Sox's eyes.
Red Sox and Orioles still discussing trade that could send currently injured catcher Adley Rutschman to Boston
Boston has been active in the catcher market since Connor Wong and Carlos Narváez have been inconsistent offensively. The New York Yankees have also been on the hunt for backstops to upgrade from Austin Wells (.161/.265/.272 slash line over 77 games). They had their eye on Rutschman, but the Sox got to him first.
Rutschman is batting .251/.331/.433 with 19 doubles, a triple, eight home runs, 40 strikeouts and 30 walks over 67 games. His season has been shortened by three different IL stints, including the current one for his wrist. In April, he hit the IL with ankle inflammation and he had another brief stint in June due to a concussion.
Earlier this year, there was some smoke that Rutschman was having a rebound season. For a while, it certainly looked that way — he had a .325/.385/.602 slash line on May 8, but he's fallen back to earth since then. Still, he's doing a lot right at the plate. He boasts a 14.1 strikeout percentage and a 15.8 whiff percentage, ranking in the 87th and 91st percentiles, respectively.
Rutschman is an elite defender to pair with Narváez. The longtime division rival backstop has clocked three blocks above average (73rd percentile), five runners caught stealing above average (100th percentile) and four defensive runs saved. He ranks in the 93rd percentile in framing and in the 47th percentile in pop time.
The Orioles are reportedly targeting pitching prospects, according to Ari Alexander. The Red Sox have more than enough pitching prospect depth to trade for Rutschman without it hurting too much, especially since he's currently injured. The deal is still being negotiated, but Sox fans may not have to wait much longer to see the price they paid for another skilled defender.
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